Incidents of racially motivated violence have inspired many colleges and universities to enact discriminatory harassment policies. Little work has been done, however, to explore the cognitive structures (or structures of expectation) informing relations between groups. This research used interviews and group sessions to examine the nature of race relations on a particular college campus. It is pointed out that "schismogenesis," or the "process of differentiation in the norms of individual behavior resulting from cumulative interaction between individuals," is "responsible for many of the antipathies and misunderstandings which occur between groups in contact." Two specific incidents are highlighted. Revealed were differing structures of expectation in forming black and white students' perceptions of race and ethnicity. Conflicting theoretical analyses of the relationship between race and schooling are also examined. Central to these differences are conflicting value premises, the resolution of which is central to the educative process. The dominant group has not confronted the power of hegemony and are likely unaware of its power. Black students challenge that hegemony and refuse to give assent to practices, but are met with resistance from the dominant group in terms of blaming the victim and with policies nominally designed to protect those victimized. (JE)

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